In The Studio with Don Marlowe-Part I

In today’s artist interview & sneak peek we visit In The Studio with Don Marlowe. This wonderful man was my boss and a mentor to me in my career as a textile and carpet designer. The world is small and I discovered that he lived in the same town as a client I had traveled to work with, and so Don agreed to my request to come see his art and working studio in his home! I’m so grateful for the artists who invite us to visit their studios! We can each learn from these visits as we see how others have created systems and set up their creative spaces to support their creative cycles. Don was gracious to let me visit him totally spur of the moment and these photos are not styled so this is typical of what his studio space looks like on an average day.

HKPS::Is making art your primary source of income? Do you have a partner who helps to support you?

DM::I’m now retired but my career was design/product development in carpet & rugs.

HKPS::How much time do you spend in your studio weekly/daily?

DM::My time spent varies enormously

HKPS::Do you work in solitude/seek out solitude or enjoy company (music, other people etc)?

DM::I work in solitude.

SPACE

HKPS::Where do you make your art, how big is your studio and how long have you been in this space?

DM::My In Home Studio is 12′ x 15′

HKPS::When you began working in this space did you plan any systems for the overall set up or did you let things evolve organically? How did past studio spaces or systems influence this space?

DM::I don’t have zones

HKPS Note::Don did seem to work on his found object sculptures in the dining room rather than in his studio…not sure if’ he always work this way…perhaps it just felt right! Do you ever find you wander with your materials and work in an area that just strikes you?

MATERIAL OBSESSION

HKPS::Do you use personal objects & memorabilia in your art? Do you collect memento’s, found objects or other ephemera, thing that evokes your childhood or playful nature=sense of humor (ironic, kitschy)? What is their Value to you?

DM::I love found metal objects for sculpture. (See Miro) & (see photo’s below of family photo’s and other objects in Don’s studio)

Next week we’ll be back to share more of Don’s thoughts on Organizing, Storage and his Legacy as an artist.

Do you have any questions for Don? If so please leave them in the comments below!

*The idea for the In the Studio series began while attending an art retreat where I curiously observed the differences in the creative cycle of order and chaos and what that looks like for different individuals. I’m very interested in sharing how organizing affects the artist’s creative process.Some systems and order are vital to our creative PLAY and learning to find a balance that works to enhance your creativity is what I hope to share with you through these interviews.

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Is there a particular artist whose ‘Tool kit’ you would like to see featured? Leave a comment below and let me know!